60 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023 

SPOTLIGHT
Suit up for ‘Suitember’
D

avid Elkus, owner of Baron’s 
Wholesale Clothiers in 
Farmington Hills and Todd’s 
Menswear in Royal Oak, has launched 
Suitember, a national partnership of men’s 
suit shops across the country. 
Suitember is designed to highlight both 
the benefits of dressing well and helping 
local charities in each store’s community. 
While “anything goes” dress codes have 
spread across the country, customers say 
wearing a suit makes a guy more effective.
Today’s modern suit appeared in the early 
1900s. There were and are lots of variations: 
single-breasted, double-breasted, oversized 
to super-slim, wide lapels to thin lapels, 
notch or peak collars, center vent, side vent, 

no vent, pleats or flat front, cuffs or not. 
One of the more exciting moments (with 
a significant personal connection) was the 
“Thunderbolt.
” Designed by Elkus’ grandfa-
ther, Nathan “Toddy” Elkus, this long coat 
with wide shoulders, fly front, slash pocket 
jacket with a high-waisted pant was intro-
duced in 1939. This quickly became popular-
ized as the Zoot Suit. 
Elkus created a Suitember website, www.
suitember.com, which includes the history of 
suits and top reasons to wear one. 
The partnership helps local charities in 
each store’s community. In the Michigan 
community, the charity will be Friendship 
Circle in West Bloomfield and others still to 
be determined. 

Ora Hirsch Pescovitz to be Honored

Each year, the Citizens 
Research Council of 
Michigan hosts a fundraising 
event that brings together 
elected officials, corporate 
executives and commu-
nity leaders to recognize 
the importance of its work 
and honor an outstanding 
Michigan leader. 
This year, 
the council will 
be honoring 
Dr. Ora Hirsch 
Pescovitz, presi-
dent of Oakland 
University, with the 
prestigious Eugene 
A. Gargaro Public 
Service Award in 
recognition of her public 
service and commitment 
to civic engagement at 
its annual public policy 
dinner at St. John’s Resort in 
Plymouth Sept. 27 starting at 
5 p.m. 
Dr. Pescovitz, has more 
than 30 years of experience 
leading positive change in 
academic health centers 
and universities, as well as 

delivering innovations in 
bench-to-bedside discovery 
and facilitating collaborations 
between academic and com-
munity partners.
The Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. 
Public Service Award recog-
nizes and lauds these indi-
viduals for these efforts. On 
behalf of the citi-
zens of Michigan 
and the local 
governments they 
serve, it thanks 
them for lifetimes 
of service. Recent 
honorees include 
Paul Hillegonds, 
John Dingell, Doug 
Roberts, Dennis 
Archer, and Kelly Rossman-
McKinney, posthumously.
Dr. Pescovitz will also be 
part of a panel of higher edu-
cation experts to discuss the 
importance, opportunities 
and challenges of providing 
higher education in Michigan 
in the 21st century. For more 
information, visit https://crc-
mich.org/event/2023-annu-
al-public-policy-dinner. 

Ora Hirsch Pescovitz 

Suicide Prevention Training

A Single Soul, a suicide pre-
vention program at Jewish 
Family Service, is forming a 
Suicide Prevention Training 
Cohort for 30 mental health 
professionals as well as cohort 
of 20 youth mental health 
professionals that begins next 
month. 
 Members will receive com-
prehensive, evidence-based 
trainings in suicide prevention, 
intervention and treatment. 
Trainings will cover screen-

ing, assessment, intervention, 
safety planning and treatment 
options and prepare you to be 
a part of a suicide safer com-
munity.
Social workers who partici-
pate will also receive free CEUs 
when applicable. 
 Apply today at jfsdetroit.
org/asinglesoul.
Questions? Contact Trisha 
Mindel at tmindel@jfsdetroit.
org or call (248) 592-226. 

Religious Heritage 
Bus Tour

Join the Interfaith Leadership 
Council as it explores some of 
Detroit’s most historical sacred 
sites, including Masjid Wali 
Muhammad, Bethel A.M.E. 
and the Isaac Agree Downtown 
Synagogue on Friday, Oct. 13. 
The $70 ticket price includes 
lunch at Sinbad’s in Detroit and 
a five-hour bus tour.
The Bianco Tour Bus will 
depart from Temple Beth El in 
Bloomfield Township at 10 a.m. 
Attendees should plan to arrive 

by 9:45.
Register at https://tinyurl.
com/3mvk6cn5 to reserve your 
seat. Tickets are limited. 

